Safety match packet



Sept. 20, 1949.

A. E. KONEN ET AL SAFETY MATCH PACKET Filed Dec. 51, 1946 Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE SAFETY 'MA'rc-H PACKET ---Arn'e'-E. Konen and Sherman K. Warner, Hartford, Conn.

- itppiication i)ccember 31, 1946, Serial No. 719,444

2-Glaims. 1

This invention relates to a safety match packet, and more particularly to a match packet of the book match type having improved means for preventing the striking of matches "while' the packet is in an open condition with the headset undetached matches exposed.

The invention has for its chief object the provision of a match packet, "or book of paper matches, wherein the striking surface is maintained in a completely -enclosed condition while the packet is opened in anyde'gree, thus making it impossible to strike a matchwithout first completely closing the packet.

A further object or the invention is to provide a match packet having a [striking surface arranged to prevent the-llyii'i'gof sparks or pieces of match heads during the striking operation, thus reducing the fire hazard present in the use of book matches of the ordinary type.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a match packet-of the kind referred' to for protecting the striking surface when not in use, so that the same is not adversely affected by exposure to "dampness from handling of the packet, and objects with which the packet may come in contact cannot be stained or damaged by engagement with the striking composition.

A still further object is to .provide a match packet in which the striking means is so arranged that in the proper use of the same the head of the match is enclosed during the striking operation, and the match will be moved in a direction away from the user, thus reducing the likelihood of injury from flying sparks or pieces of match heads.

The invention comprises, broadly stated, a body of detachable paper matches arranged between spaced walls of the packet to be swung in and out by rotation of the body, and having opposed hinged striking surface portions which are clamped together by any movement of the match body to expose the heads of the matches.

The invention will best be understood from the following description, constituting a specification of the same, when taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the improved match packet in closed condition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the match packet with the body of paper matches in varying positions of exposure;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the match packet illustrating how the striking surface of the same is adapted for use when the packet is in completely closed condition; and

Figure 4 is a view looking into the striking portion of the match packet when the packet is in closed condition, and showing how the striking surface may be arranged in use.

Referring in detail to the-drawings, thematch packet comprises a cover member 1 formed by bending upon itself a strip of suitable sheet material, such as cardboard or the like, forming spaced-apart walls 2 and 3 adapted to enclose a body of paper matches. Between the spaced Walls 2 and 3 is positioned a body of paper matches, preferably made up of two layers of suitable sheet material 4 and 5. The strips of sheet material 4 and 5 have a width substantially equal to that of the cover member I, and-are formed with slits 6 dividing the strips into match stems Tbearing the match heads 8 after the manner of the usual type of book matches.

Each of the strips 4 and 5 hasone lower corner cut away, as indicated'at t0 and H, sothatwhen the strips '4 and 5 are positioned together, 'a corner of one strip will project beyond the cut-away portion of the other strip. The strips 4 and 5 also have scored lines or cuts part way through the thickness of the sheet material, as indicated at I4 and I5, so that hinged portions I! and i8 are formed along thelower margins of the strips.

' The body of matches formed by the strips] and 5 is inserted within the cover member 1 with the hinged portions I! and I8 of the body of matches extending beyond the lower edges of the walls 2 and 3 of the cover. A rivet or other suitable securing means 20 is inserted through the walls 2 and 3 and the strips 4 and 5 to secure these members together. When thus assembled, the body of matches is arranged with the match heads 8 spaced somewhat from the top of the cover .member I so that the body of matches may be rotated about the rivet 20 to move the same out of the cover for detaching the matches and to return the body of matches within the cover before striking a match.

A striking composition is coated upon the opposed surfaces 22 and 23' of the hinged portions I! and I8, respectively, and it will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings that when the body of matches is rotated to a position out of the cover member, the hinged portions IT and I8 will be securely clamped together, so that the body of matches must be returned to the cover before a match can be struck. It will also be seen that the hinged members I! and I8 cannot be separated if the body of matches is moved in any degree out of the cover member, so that all of the match heads striking composition surfaces 22 and 23, whereupon by pinching together the members I! and I8 and drawing the match head between them,

the same can be ignited without danger of fly ing sparks or pieces of match head becoming disengaged from the head of the match. The corners of the strips 4 and 5 which extend beyond the cut-away corners in and II serve as a means by which the members I! and I8 are spread apart to bring a match head'into engagement with the match-striking composition. .With the match packet held in one hand and a detached match held in the other, the head of the match can be brought into contact with one of the projecting corners extending beyond the cut-away portions 1 and l I, and the match head thus inserted between the members I! and I8. By thus operating the match packet in striking a match, the movement of the match head will be away from the user, and the danger of being burned by a broken match head is thus greatly reduced. Moreover, the striking composition between the members I? and I8 is at all times protected, and the danger of staining or otherwise damaging objects with which the composition might come into contact is eliminated. i

It will thus be seen that the invention as above described constitutes an improved match packet embodying means for positively eliminating the striking of matches with the unused matches in exposed condition, and thus greatly reducing the fire hazard attendant upon; the use of ordinary match packets of the book'match type. c i r a 'It will, of course, be understood that the above-described embodiment of the invention is intended for purposes of illustration only, and

various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionor thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimd as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A match packet comprising a cover having spaced Walls, a body ofmatches rotatably secured between said walls; hinged portions of said body extending entirely beyond said cover in the closed condition of said packet and bearing opposed striking surfaces capable of receiving therebetween a match head, said spaced walls engaging said hinged portions in the open condition of said packet to maintain said striking surfaces in engagement.

2. In a match packet comprising a cover having spaced walls, and a body of matches rotatably secured between said spaced walls, the featur'es including two hinged portions upon said body of matches extending entirely beyond said coverin the closed condition of thepacket and bearing opposed striking surfaces capable of receiving amatch head therebetween, said'spaced walls engaging the two hinged portions 'in'the open condition of'said packet to maintain the strikingsurfaces of said two hinged portions in proximateengagement, and an individual cutout portion upon one corner of'one'hinge portion at one end of the, latter and a similar individual cut-outportion upononejcornerof the other hinge portion at the otheriend of this last hinge portion inorder to facilitate manual separation of the two hinge portions in the closed condition of said packet. "7

AR-NE E. KONEN;

7 SHERMAN WARNER;

'REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the file of this patent:' H A c UNITED s'rnTEs PATENTS 1 *Number Name V Date 2,086,906 Frost' July-13, 1937 2,221,886 Van: Beck-" Nov. 19, 1940 

